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Rachel King (13 KP) rated Before I Go to Sleep in Books

Feb 11, 2019  
Before I Go to Sleep
Before I Go to Sleep
S.J. Watson | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (24 Ratings)
Book Rating
I read this book on the avid insistence of a friend, and I am sure glad I read this book. The premise is quite intriguing - a woman with a very unique type of amnesia in which she wakes up every morning not remembering anything from as much as several decades of her life. What is most interesting is that sometimes she wakes thinking she is a child, while others she believes she is a young adult. There is no predicting at what believed age she will be when she wakes, and no controlling it.
A few things bugged me about the plot, the first of which was that on the mornings that she was supposed to wake as a child, nothing in her behavior indicated that of a child - she still behaved the same as when she woke as a full-grown adult. I was also immediately suspicious of Ben, as his behavior towards her did not seem very motivated towards achieving a return of her memory- but I suppose that was the point.
Despite Christine's loss of memory, in many ways her actions are instinctual - which is very realistic and made for some tense scenes. A Dr. Nash comes to her aid in secret, both because her case is no unusual and because he really does want to help her. Despite the difficulties of Christine not remembering him from day-to-day, he is still able to make progress with her - all behind Ben's back. On his advice, Christine begins keeping a journal of each day, as well as what memories return to her. This is when the book really picks up in intensity, as Christine comes to realize that her own mind could be her own worst enemy. At times she is not even certain if she can trust the words in her journal, since she cannot remember writing them.
As she fills up her journal, she begins to uncover lies and secrets in her life that create nail-biting, mind-blowing scenes that had me riveted. I was a little disappointed with how the book ends - after all of the build up, it seemed almost anti-climactic. Other than that, the book was an excellent read, especially for a first-time author. Everyone should read this book!
  
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ClareR (5721 KP) rated The Sixteen Trees of the Somme in Books

Mar 2, 2019  
The Sixteen Trees of the Somme
The Sixteen Trees of the Somme
Lars Mytting | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Such a beautifully written and translated novel - I struggled to put this one down. It's another of those 'cooking one-handed' books (warning: this may result in burns of both person and food!).
Edvard has grown up with his grandfather on a remote farm in the Norwegian mountains after the mysterious death of his parents when he was a small child.
After his grandfather dies, Edvard decides to leave his solitary life on the farm and investigate what happened. His journey takes him to the northernmost Scottish Shetland Islands where his Great Uncle lived the last years of his life, and to a small woodland in the Somme, where his parents died.
The descriptions of the bleak Scottish islands, the lush woodland in the Somme, and Edvard potato farm in Norway are stunning. The Wars are described in heartbreaking terms: the loss and the grim reality of war, families torn apart and suspicions aimed at friends and family members. And at its heart, a boy without parents, orphaned with he death of his grandfather, trying to make sense of his familys past.
A truly gorgeous book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (MacLehose Press) for my copy of this book.
  
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Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Counterpunch in Books

Jun 14, 2019 (Updated Jun 14, 2019)  
Counterpunch
Counterpunch
Patrice Williams Marks | 2019
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Counter Punch is a really short story to me. What you do if you were a mother and something happened to your daughter. How much would you do to protect your daughter? Well this story kind put that mother and daughter relationship to the test.

We also learn that Mo is struggling with not only the loss of her dad but on top of that we get hear about an assault on Mo. Her mother is worried and knows something is wrong when her daughter do not come home after 3 hours of waiting.

We are some what left in the dark as to who exactly attacked Mo? How it ends you will be surpised to no end. It leaves you wondering did Mo's mother help or did she kill the wrong man? The cops seem to have hunch but is it right?

The author does have us hang on to find out what happens next. I would suggest this book for children at least be ages 15 and up. Though I am only suggesting that and it is really up to the parents of the child or children. They can decide for themselves. This book has death and crime and like I said an assault.